Biological Safety Officer

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

Your Role:

EIT is seeking a qualified and experienced Biological Safety Officer (BSO) to lead and manage the biosafety programs within EIT. The BSO will play a critical role in ensuring safe, ethical, and compliant handling of all biological agents and materials in accordance with national and international regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and maintain the organisation’s biosafety policies and procedures across all departments.
• Oversee biosafety compliance in research and operational activities involving:
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• Human biological materials (tissues, cells, blood, etc.)
• Plant pathogens and transgenic plants
• Serve as the primary contact and advisor on biosafety matters for all staff and researchers.
• Conduct biosafety risk assessments and approve protocols.
• Develop and deliver training programs for employees on biosafety, waste management, PPE, and emergency procedures
• Investigate and report incidents, exposures, or near misses involving biological agents
• Maintain accurate documentation and records of biosafety practices, audits, and training.
• Oversee biological waste disposal, decontamination procedures, and laboratory inspections

Requirements:
Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Strong experience in Microbiology, Biology, Plants, Environmental Health, Public Health, or related field.
• Experience within a scientific or laboratory environment.
• 5+ years of experience in biosafety, preferably in a research or biotechnology environment involving multi-species or interdisciplinary biological work.
• Certification as Biological Safety Professional
• In-depth knowledge of biosafety regulations and standards.
• Strong understanding of Containment level 1-3, autoclaving, disinfection, and biosecurity principles.
• Excellent communication, training, and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse teams.
• Ability to multitask, manage complex tasks, and keep detailed records and reports across different sites.
• Flexibility to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and manage a variety of tasks across sites.
• Collaborative and works well with cross-functional teams, including site managers, senior leadership, and external contractors.

Benefits:
Our Benefits:

• Salary: £45,000 - £60,000 per annum (depending on experience) + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together - What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.
• We can consider candidates both full time and part time, fully onsite and hybrid for this particular position.